Heat circulator



J. B. HORTON HEAT CIRCULATOR Jan. 24, 1933.

Filed April 15. i931 ghmwnkw Patented Jan. 24, 1933 JOHN B. HORTON, F SAUGATUCK, CONNECTICUT HEAT GIRCULATOR Application filed April 15, 1931. Serial No. 530,157.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in heaters or heat circulators and has for an object the providing of a circulator adaptedto be arranged in conjunction with a heater using any type of fuel such for example as an oil or gas burner, coal, wood or the likewhereby to set up a circulation of air in a room," garage or the like in a manner to bring more air into position to be m heated by the burner than would ordinarily be circulated in proximity to the burner and thus increase the rapidity, uniformity and effectiveness with which the room may be heated. f

Another object of the invention is to provide an air circulator'adapted to be arranged on an oil or gas burner 'orthe like and including tubes forming passageways for air through the device and including channels at the sides of the tubes for heat and the products 'ofcombustion given ofi by the burner, wherebythe air in its movement through the tubes will be heated and caused to circulate rapidly owing to the presence of the heat about the outer sides of the tube.

A further object is to provide an air or heat circulator as stated and including means whereby the products of combustion from the burner may be piped off to prevent the same escaping into a room, garage or the like.

An additional object is to provide a circulator having the characteristics stated and which is neat and attractive in appearance and which while efficient and reliable in operation may yet be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

Other objects and advantages willbecome apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein a satisfactory embodimentof the invention is shown. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims, to which claims reference must be had for a definition of the limitations of the invention. a

In the drawing:

I Fig. l is a central verticalsectional view substantially on the line 11 of Fig. 2 the circulator being shown as positioned on the upper portion of an oil heater;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;. I

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a tube and a pair of funnels for association there- 7 with,the tube funnels being shown separated and removed from the circulator; and

Fig. 4 is a face view of the tube of Fig. 3 the relation of the funnels being shown by dotted lines. H

Referring in detail to the drawing, the improved circulator generally indicated at 5 includes a cylinder or casing 6 open at its lower end as-most clearly shown in Fig. 1 and in said lower end adapted to receive the upper portion 7 of the casing of an oil heater, the same being provided with a ring or bead 8 limiting the extent to which the heater and circulator may telescope. It will, of course, be understood that the heater 7 while described as an oil heater may be a heater of any kind. For example, it may well be a gas heater.

Heaters of the kind indicated at 7 are ordinarily perforated or open at their upper end and are usually provided with a centrally arranged tubular projection 9. It will be seen that heat and the products of com-bus tion from the burner in heater 7 will pass upwardly through its perforated upper end and into the cylindrical body or casing 6 of the circulator. According to my present invention the heat from the burner is used to set up circulation of air through the circulator 5 whereby more air will be brought into relation to the heater and the invention as herein embodied is so constructed that the air circulated is not contaminated by the products-of combustion from the heater.

A plurality of openings 10 and 11 are provided through the walls of the casing 6 adjacent its upper and lower ends. The upper openings which are designated 10 are arranged in a circular series about the upper end portion of the casing while the lower openings designated 11 are arranged in a similar manner about the lower end portion for eachopening 11 and the openings might and the tubes are also arranged with their be describedas arranged in'pairs, one opening 10 and the opening 11 in vertical alignment with it constituting a pair.

Within the body 6 there is arranged a series of tubes 12, there being one tube for each pair of openings through the wall of the body.

Tubes 12 have their upper and lower portions curved in the same direction whereby their upper and lower open ends 13 and 14face in the same direction. The tubes are positioned in the body with their end portionsdisposed in the openingslOand 11 and each of theend portions is provided with a series of bendablelugs 15 adapted to be bent back. against the outer surface of the body'about the respective. openings whereby the tubes are se- 7 cured in position.

Bycomparison of Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that as they tubes are arranged within-the circulator they are spaced from one another laterally to provide passages 16between them outer or front. walls spaced from the wall of the casing 6 whereby to provide channels or passages 17 It will be understood that-heat andthe products of combustion from the heaterrpass'upwardly through the channels 16. and 17 whereby the tubes 12 have practically their entire outer surfaces exposed to be heated.

- Also it will be noted in Fig.2 that the tubes 12 are substantially triangular or wedge shaped incross section and due to this construction it is possible to get a large number of tubes in a given size of cylinder or casing -6. These tubes are preferably formed. from a single sheet of metal doubled upon themselves and squeezed together as at 18and extending vertically and centrally in the casing'is atube 19 against which the inner edges of the tubes 12 abut. This tube 19 as will be clear assists in maintaining thetubes 12 in their proper relative relationship. Further, at its lower end tube 19 carries a hollow somewhat cone shaped'member '20 adapted to fit over the tubularprojection 9 previously referred to.

The member 20 acts to spread the heat and productes of combustion passing into the body 6'from the heater 7 whereby the: hot gases will. pass upwardly through the body in the different channels 16 and 17 and thus comein contact with all s des of the tubes 12. At its upper end the body 6 extends vertically as at 21 and a cap or cover member 22 is provided the same being somewhat conical in shape and at'its large end including ,a

tively include a tubular nipple or extension 24 adapted to be connected with a stove pipe or the like 25, whereby the gases from the burner will be carried off. In this connection it will be noted that at no point in the apparatus are the tubes 12 open to the interiorof the casing.

-'Funnels 26 and 27 are arranged to be inserted into the open ends 13 and 14 respecof the tubes 12. The funnel 27 includesthe neck portion 28 adapted to telescope into the open end 14 and the portion 28 carries lugs 29 adapted to be bent against the inner walls of the tube whereby to secure the funnel in place.

Funnel 26 also includes a neck portion 30 similarv to the neck portion 28 of-the funnel 27 and attaching lugs 31 sii'nilarto thelugs29 of the funnel 27 It willbe noted that the funnels 26' and .2 7. are

much .alike, the only substantial. difi'erence being thatjthe. lower wall of the funnel 27 is inclined sharply; and is quite long'while its upper wall is substantially horizontal. The upper and lowerwa-lls of funnel 26 incline away fronr each other or in opposite direc' tions.-m

In thejoperation ofthe improved circulator, assuming that it has been placed-on the upper portion of a heater as shown in Fig. 1, the heat and products of combustion from the heater will pass. into the body or easing 6 c and bespread or divided bythe member 20 and pass upwardly through the channels 16 and. 17 about thetubes 12' and out through the tubular extension 24 of the cover member 22. 1 These hot gases coming in contact with the tubes 12 will heat the air in these tubes and as the air is heated it will move u wardly in the tubes and out through the unnels 26 while additional air will be drawn into the lower portions of the tubesv through the funnels 27. As the tubes become warmerthe circulation will be increased and much air will be drawn into the tubes and heated. In this way, owing to the circulation, air will be presented for heating which otherwise would not be presented to the-heater. v From the foregoing description it will be seen that my improved circulator comprises but a relatively few parts each of which may be made from sheet metal. Further,it will be noted that the circulator does not include movingparts and that the parts are so secured togetherthat there will be no occasion for wear. Thus; the circulator will have an indefinite life and while reliable and efiicient in operation may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable price.

Having'thu-s set forth the nature ofmy invention, what I claim is:

1. In aheat circulator, a hollow body, open ended tubes within the body and having their ends disposed to receive and discharge air outside the body, said tubes substantially triangular in transversesection, a centrallyarranged member in said body and against which the inner edges of said tubes abut and said tubes spaced apart in the body to provide channels for the circulation of heat about the tubes.

2. In a heat circulator, a hollow body having an open end adapted to receive the upper end portion of aheater, open ended tubes within the body and having their ends disposed to receive and discharge air at the outer sides of the body, said tubes spaced apart in the body to permit the circulation of products of combustion about the tubes, funnels arranged in the open ends of the tubes at the outer sides of the body, and means closing the upper end of the body and having a discharge opening adapted to be connected with a flue.

3. In a heat circulator, a cylindrical body having an open end adapted to receive the upper end portion of a heater, a centrally arranged tube in said body, open end tubes within the body and having their ends disposed to receive and discharge air at the outer sides of the body, said tubes at their inner edges abutting the centrally arranged tube and held in position thereby, and said tubes spaced apart in the body to provide channels for the circulation of products of combustion about the tubes.

at. In a heat circulator, a cylindrical body having an. open end adapted to receive the upper end portion of a heater, tubes within the body, said tubes curved away from one another at their lower ends, said tubes arranged substantially vertically within the body and having their ends disposed to receive and discharge air at the outer sides of the body, and means positioned-beneath the tubes at their lower outwardly curved ends for spreading heat and products of combustion received in the body from the heater.

5. In a heat circulator, a hollow body, open ended tubes within the body and having their ends disposed through spaced openings in the walls of the body whereby the tubes receive and discharge air at the outer sides of the body, said tubes substantially flat in transverse section and extending from points adjacent the inner wall of the body to points centrally thereof and said tubes spaced apart at their adjacent sides and from the inner surface of the wall. of the body between the openings whereby to provide channels substantially surrounding the tubes within the body.

6. In a heat circulator, a hollow body, open ended tubes within the body and having their ends disposed to receive and discharge air at the outer sides of the body, funnels arranged at the outer sides of the body and in the open ends of said tubes, and said tubes spaced apart in the body to provide channels for the circulation of heat about the tubes.

7. In a heat circulator, a hollow cylindrical body, open ended tubes within the body and having their ends disposed to receive and discharge air at the outer sides of the body, said tubes being substantially triangular in transverse section whereby a large number of tubes may be disposed in a body of a given diameter, and said tubes spaced apart in the body whereby to provide channels for the circulation of heat. I

8. In a heat circulator, a hollow body adapted to be arranged vertically to receive heat from a burner, said body having openings in its side walls adjacent its upper and lower ends, tubes in said body and each arrang-ed with its lower end in one of the openings adjacent the low-er end of the body and its upper end in one of the openings adjacent the upper end of the body whereby said tubes at their respective ends open through t e sides of the body and provide air passageways throu 'h the body, bendable lugs on the end portions of the tubes and adapted to be bent against the outer wall of the body to secure the tubes in place, and said tubes spaced apart in the body whereby to provide channels for the passage of heat and the prodnets of combustion through the body and in contact with the outer walls of the tubes.

9. In a heat circulator, a hollow body adapted to be arranged vertically to receive heat and the products of combustion from the burner, said body having spaced openings in its side walls adjacent its upper and lower ends, tubes in said body and vertically arranged, said tubes having their end portions curved in the same directions and having their open ends disposed in the openings in the walls of the body whereby the tubes are adapted to receive and discharge air at the outer sides of the body, said tubes having bendable lugs on their end portions and adapted to be bent against the outer walls of the body whereby to secure the tubes in place, and a funnel connected with the end of each of said tubes. said funnels having bendable lugs adapted to be bent into engagement with the inner walls of the tubes whereby to secure the funnels in place.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN B. HORTON. 

